HydroPro Hydrostatic Pressure Tester by SDL Atlas

Overview

The HydroPro Hydrostatic Pressure Tester by SDL Atlas is an engineered solution for quantifying the resistance of textile materials to water penetration under controlled static pressure—commonly referred to as hydrostatic head resistance. Based on the fundamental principle of applying incremental, regulated water pressure to a conditioned fabric specimen clamped over a standardized test area, the instrument measures the pressure at which water first appears on the fabric’s reverse side (i.e., the “water breakthrough point”). This measurement is critical for evaluating performance-critical textiles including coated fabrics, technical workwear, geotextiles, tarpaulins, rainwear, and medical barrier fabrics. Designed in accordance with international test standards—including ISO 811, AATCC 127, BS EN 20811, and GB/T 4744—the HydroPro delivers repeatable, traceable, and auditable results essential for quality assurance, R&D validation, and regulatory compliance in textile manufacturing and certification laboratories.

Key Features

• High-precision pneumatic clamping system capable of securely holding specimens up to 30 mm thick—eliminating slippage, edge leakage, and test variability
• Standard 100 cm² test head with optional interchangeable heads (e.g., 25 cm², 50 cm²) for material-specific or standard-compliant testing
• Maximum test pressure capacity of 5 bar (equivalent to 5000 cm H₂O), fully covering the full range required by ISO, ASTM, and AATCC specifications
• Integrated high-resolution camera system with real-time video capture and timestamped still-image snapshot functionality—enabling visual verification of breakthrough onset and post-test forensic analysis
• Automatic water filling and level detection via capacitive sensors, minimizing operator intervention and reducing procedural error
• Full-color capacitive touchscreen controller with preloaded test methods (ISO 811, AATCC 127, BS EN 20811, etc.) and customizable program profiles
• Open-frame test chamber with transparent polycarbonate safety shield and integrated LED illumination—ensuring unobstructed visual monitoring throughout the test cycle
• Intelligent alert system that provides audible and on-screen warnings when approaching the anticipated breakthrough pressure threshold
• “Rapid Assessment Mode” reduces time-to-first-breakthrough estimation by up to 20% versus conventional ramping protocols—without compromising measurement integrity

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HydroPro accommodates a broad spectrum of textile substrates: woven and nonwoven fabrics, laminated composites, coated synthetics, rubberized membranes, and geosynthetic liners. Its modular clamping architecture ensures consistent contact pressure across heterogeneous thicknesses and surface textures. The system supports compliance with globally recognized textile performance standards—including ISO 811 (determination of resistance to water penetration), AATCC Test Method 127, BS EN 20811, and GB/T 4744. Optional accessories extend its scope to biological barrier evaluation: the blood penetration module conforms to ASTM F1670 (synthetic blood resistance), ISO 16603 (blood-borne pathogen penetration), and BS ISO 13994 (liquid penetration resistance); the micropore test kit satisfies BS 3321 for fine-pore filtration assessment. All configurations maintain mechanical and software traceability aligned with GLP and ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory requirements.

Software & Data Management

HydroPro operates with proprietary Windows-based analysis software that captures real-time pressure curves, timestamps, image metadata, and pass/fail flags per test sequence. Data export is supported in CSV, PDF, and XML formats—enabling integration with LIMS and ERP platforms. Audit trails record user login events, method modifications, calibration logs, and result approvals in accordance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for electronic records and signatures. RemoteAccess—a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi-enabled mobile application—allows iOS and Android users to monitor active tests, receive push notifications at 80% completion, and review historical run summaries without physical access to the instrument workstation.

Applications

• Quality control of waterproof apparel, outdoor gear, and military uniforms
• R&D validation of novel hydrophobic coatings and membrane laminates
• Regulatory testing for PPE certification (EN 343, EN 14325)
• Geotextile durability assessment in civil engineering applications
• Medical textile barrier efficacy evaluation (surgical gowns, drapes, isolation gowns)
• Supplier qualification and incoming material inspection programs
• Comparative benchmarking of competitive fabric technologies

FAQ

What standards does the HydroPro support out-of-the-box?
ISO 811, AATCC 127, BS EN 20811, and GB/T 4744 are preconfigured in the controller and software.
Can the system be calibrated and verified internally?
Yes—the instrument includes built-in pressure sensor self-diagnostic routines and supports NIST-traceable calibration using external deadweight testers.
Is data export compatible with laboratory information management systems (LIMS)?
Yes—CSV and XML outputs are structured for seamless ingestion into common LIMS platforms; optional API integration is available upon request.
Does the HydroPro meet cybersecurity requirements for network-connected instruments?
RemoteAccess uses TLS 1.2+ encryption and role-based authentication; local network deployment mode is also supported to meet air-gapped lab policies.
What maintenance is required for long-term operational stability?
Annual verification of pressure transducer linearity and periodic cleaning of water pathways and sealing surfaces—as documented in the included maintenance logbook and service manual.